The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
The Netherlands:
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city with a split personality. This progressive, cultured, museum-crowded metropolis built around a series of concentric canals is also one of the most hedonistic cities in the world. There is an incomparable romance about the canals at night, and a wealth of art and artifacts in the city's great museums, but the oldest church in the city has to compete for attention with the prostitutes in the windows across the street.
During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, Amsterdam became the political and economic center of the Netherlands, at that time the world's leading trading power. Although the Netherlands is no longer a major player in the international scene, the city has remained worldly, wealthy, and influential--although its modern reputation is inevitably linked to its tradition of free thinking and tolerance. Today, many visitors come to Amsterdam simply because they're curious. They've heard about the pot sold in cafés, the prostitutes on display, the uninhibited gay scene--well, it's all here. If you're here for a radical party scene, stick to the Red Light District and you'll get more than an eyeful, stomach full, and head full of vices.
A few blocks west, however, Amsterdam is another place entirely. Most locals stick to the Jordaan, an area west of Dam Square filled with brown cafés along beautiful canals. Party-minded residents head to Leidseplein in the southwestern part of the city to mingle with out-of-towners. The city's green parks are ideal for wandering on warm, sunny days. Vondelpark, south of the center, is a good spot to picnic or rest your dogs after an afternoon of avid museum going. Explore pocket neighborhoods scattered throughout the city and you may find some little-known Indonesian restaurant, outdoor art, or gorgeous 17th-century architecture. Then you'll understand why residents love this beautiful, crazy city with more canals than Venice.
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